How to Use a Ground Cover in Your Yard or Garden

Ground covers are versatile plants that can fit into any garden style and situation. They can be used to fill in empty spaces along paths, fences, and rockeries. Or, use ground covers to provide a third layer of plantings below trees and shrubs.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Choose ground covers instead of lawn grass in small areas of the garden for easier maintenance.

2. Use ground covers in ornamental plantings as a lower layer under shrubs for a full, lush look.

3. Use tight-growing ground covers to suppress weeds.

4. Use fragrant, mat-forming ground covers around stepping-stones.

5. Plant ground covers around paths and along fences and concrete foundations to soften the look.

6. Decide how much sun your ground cover will get by looking at the area at different times of the day - then choose the plant to fit the conditions.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a ground cover appropriate for your USDA plant hardiness zone. (See Related Sites.)